Listed races for fillies and mares

We have two listed races for fillies and mares today, on the all-weather at Kempton over a mile at 15.50 CET and on heavy ground at Cork over 1 1/2 miles at 17.30. The former event should mainly concern Queen Catrine (Charlie Hills/ Andrea Atzeni), who has plenty of form at this level, and Lady Dutch (Marco Botti/ Martin Harley), winner over this CD of her only start this year, while Victoria Regina (David Simcock/ Jim Crowley) is fit from Meydan, where she was twice fourth in strong company. That form should be good enough, but we still prefer Queen Catrine, who is racing for the first time on an artificial surface.

The Irish race can probably be left to the lightly-raced Aga Khan filly Massinga (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen) who finished last year with two easy wins and looks well up to this standard. There will also be plenty of interest in the 3yo races at 15.45 and 18.30, in which Aidan O´Brien´s East India and Hans Holbein will probably start favourite; they will be ridden by his son Joseph, his first races on the flat this season and he is apparently riding at a weight that he could not manage last week; we shall see.

There is jumps racing in the U.K. at Haydock, Carlisle and Newton Abbot with no graded races but plenty of highly competitive handicaps, especially at Haydock. Paul Nicholls is usually the trainer to follow on a Saturday and he has good chances with the top-weights in the the two top races, Southfield Vic at 15.35 and Virak at 16.10, both partnered by the good claimer Sean Bowen.

Kempton - betting forecast:
1. Race: Just That Lord - Frank Bridge - Rosealee
2. Race: Mr Bossy Boots - Ninjago - Brigliadoro
3. Race: Lady Dutch - Victoria Regina - Tea Blossom
4. Race: Made With Love - Spiritual Star - Regulation
5. Race: Juventas - Teosroyal - Shagah
6. Race: Azraff - Jolievitesse - Surewecan
7. Race: Lycidas - Taws - Mubaraza